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Money for nothing

I have not made any money out of blogging yet. The Google ads for my 'most read' blog shows about 2 USD or something.

Yes, I have got the odd free meal while doing reviews for http://www.feastguru.com/. I have won a restaurant review competition there too. The prize was restaurant coupons at a restaurant at the other end of the universe so I have not gone there yet.

I love blogging. Don't get me wrong. But the mind does wander at these times of slowdown.

I have thought of a couple of ideas. Both suggested by Kainaz.

Idea 1: I often have people calling me up for restaurant and menu recommendations. Do you think there would be any merit in turning this to a business proposition? You can call up on a number where you can get restaurant suggestions and suggestions on what to order.

Idea 2: The other day a friend called me up asking for directions on how to make my koshamangsho with chicken instead of mutton. I thought about it and gave her directions. The results were quite good apparently. In fact her guest packed some home. Which gave us our second idea.

Call me up and let me know what ingredients are there at home. I could give suggestions on what to cook with these in a simple and fast way, in a 'cooking for dummies idiom'.

My success in getting our maid to turn out fairly good dishes can be my creds.

So what do you think? Any VC offers?

Of course my dream would be to become a food columnist or write a food book or host a food show. But one can't depend on 'luck by chance' can one?

Idea no 2 is quite interesting!!! A boon for people like us!!! I wouldnt mind calling you up to check... i only need to think of the pasta recipe you shared!!! :) Only thing is you will get all kinds of calls!!! Or maybe you could give dinner suggestions - as in if someone is hosting a small get together for friends.. what meal to put together and how!!

@K, i think there would be a lot of takers for that@Anon, Scarlet: great to know you guys feel that. Gives me a lot of confidence. I don't know if you gus saw Luck By Chance but I think there was a strong message there. One has to get up and move one's a@#$ to follow one's dream. Note to self - you can't sit pretty and expect it to fall on your lap.@ Moonshine...yes i guess there would be takers for people who desmystify cooking. Cooking is so simple. I personally hate ornate recipes and prefer to follow my instincts and have arrived at my short cuts

I thik while they sound good, the problem with both your ideas (other than the book) is that you have a full time job, and cannot expect people only to call you when you get off work.

I think another way will be to talk to your favorite restaurant managers and tell them about your blog, and good readership etc. A lot of them do a lot of advertsing, promotional events etc which you could advertise on your blog in turn for some percentage from their end.

top of my mind - Mainland China advertises in print as well as on TV, Soul fry Casa sends out email invites for all functions, (both being places you love)... you could go a long way in prmoting the events. Zenzi does a lot too, for its weekend events etc...

Serendipity, very well thought out and very true. I have at least 6 story ideas but can't write because of work. So answering queries would be a bit impractical as you have pointed out. I know someone who runs a site based on a revenue model which includes tie ups with restaurant. I don't want to go into that area right now. My strength, or at least love, is for content

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